Free Astronomy Magazine March-April 2016

MARCH-APRIL 2016 T his view of the ceresian crater Victa was captured by NASA's Dawn spacecraft on Dec. 19, 2015. The steep-walled crater is approxima- tely 19 miles (30 kilometers) in diameter, and was named for the Roman goddess of food and nourishment. Dawn took this image from its low-altitude map- ping orbit (LAMO), at an approximate altitude of 240 miles (385 kilometers) above Ceres. The image resolution is 120 feet (35 meters) per pixel. O ne of the most intriguing features on Ceres, Occator crater, is seen in this oblique view from Dawn. This crater is 60 miles (90 kilometers) across and 2 miles (4 kilometers) deep, and is home to the brightest areas on Ceres. This image was acquired on Oct. 18, 2015 from an altitude of 915 miles (1,470 kilometers). ▼ ▼ ▼ U nnamed cra- ter near the equator of Ceres. The image is centered at appro- ximately 4 degrees south latitude, 350 degrees east longi- tude. Dawn took this image on Dec. 18, 2015, from its low-altitude map- ping orbit (LAMO), at an approximate altitude of 240 miles (385 kilome- ters) above Ceres. The image resolu- tion is 120 feet (35 meters) per pixel. T he southeast rim of Dantu Crater. Bright material can be seen in some places along the walls. The image is cente- red at approximately 20 degrees north latitude, 142 degrees east longi- tude. Dawn cap-tured the scene on Dec. 20, 2015 from its low-altitude mapping orbit (LAMO), at an approximate altitude of 240 miles (385 kilome- ters) above Ceres. The image resolution is 120 feet (35 meters) per pixel. ▼